Jeff Schudel's NFL team rankings: Lost opportunities create clutter at the top

The 15th week of the NFL will be remembered as one of opportunity lost for several teams hoping to move up in our weekly power rankings and also make a move in the NFL playoff race.
-- The Denver Broncos, 11-3, lost the top spot in the rankings to the Seahawks, when they were upset by the Chargers last Thursday. They also lost the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but as it turns out that was only temporary because…
-- The New England Patriots, 10-4, failed to take care of business in Miami and fell from sixth to seventh in the rankings. The Patriots would have been 11-3 with a victory and would have had the top seed because they beat the Broncos head-to-head. But the good news for Bill Belichick’s crew is they are still the second seed because….
-- The Cincinnati Bengals, 9-5, couldn’t overcome a 21-0 first-quarter deficit in Pittsburgh. They beat the Patriots head-to-head, so they would have had the second seed had they beaten the Steelers.
The Bengals dropped from seventh to eighth in the rankings, and as much as that perplexes Coach Marvin Lewis, he might be thinking of the suddenly tight AFC North even more. The Bengals have a one-game lead over the charmed Baltimore Ravens. The pair meet on the final Sunday of the year in Cincinnati, and if the Ravens win that game and they tie for the division lead, the Ravens, ranked 11th, would win the division because they would have swept the Bengals.
-- The Dallas Cowboys had a chance to take over first in the NFC East. They played the Packers at home Sunday night knowing the Eagles were beaten by the Vikings earlier in the day. But Tony Romo literally threw the game away, so the Cowboys are 7-7, a game behind the Eagles. They are 18th in the rankings only because they are better than the teams ranked lower.
One team that took matters into its own hands is the Green Bay Packers. The Packers moved from 17th to 15th when they rallied to beat Dallas and are now only a half-game behind the Bears in the NFC North. The longtime rivals meet in Chicago a week from Sunday. The division title will be on the line if the Packers dispose of the Steelers in Green Bay on Sunday.
To save time finding the Browns in the power rankings, start at the bottom. The Browns are 29th, ahead of only the Raiders, Redskins and Texans. That’s what happens to a team that loses eight of nine games.Jeff Schudel’s Week 16 NFL team rankings1. Seattle Seahawks (12-2, Last week: 2): Getting a shutout on the road, even against the lowly Giants, is impressive.2. Denver Broncos (11-3, LW: 1): Despite losing last Thursday night, the Broncos got some help Sunday and own the top seed in the AFC.3. San Francisco 49ers (10-4, LW: 4): A wild-card berth in the playoffs will allow the 49ers to continue the momentum they have been building.4. Carolina Panthers (10-4, LW: 5): The Panthers play their biggest game of the season on Sunday when they host the Saints in a battle for first place in the NFC South.5. Kansas City Chiefs (11-3, LW: 9): The Chiefs have officially put their three-game winning streak behind them and have clinched a wild-card spot.6. New Orleans Saints (10-4, LW: 3): The Saints are not a good road team and do not want to settle for a wild-card spot in the playoffs.7. New England Patriots (10-4, LW: 6): The Patriots had some breaks go their way to beat the Browns. They weren’t so lucky in Miami.8. Philadelphia Eagles (8-6, LW: 7): The Eagles were stunned by the Vikings and have the tough task of hosting the Bears and finishing in Dallas.9. Cincinnati Bengals (9-5, LW: 8): By losing to the Steelers, the Bengals blew a golden opportunity to take the second seed in the AFC.10. Chicago Bears (8-6, LW: 10): Sticking by his conviction to go with Jay Cutler at quarterback paid off Sunday for Coach Marc Trestman.11. Baltimore Ravens (8-6, LW: 11): The Ravens, just one game behind the Bengals, are sniffing another AFC North title.12. Indianapolis Colts (9-5, LW: 13): They aren’t the mightiest of champions, but the Colts are champions of the AFC South.13. Miami Dolphins (8-6, LW: 15): The Dolphins’ loss to the Ravens earlier in the season could cost them the second AFC wildcard spot.14. Arizona Cardinals (9-5, LW: 12): The Cardinals had to go into overtime to pull out a squeaker, 37-34, over the Tennessee Titans.15. Green Bay Packers (7-6-1, LW: 17): The NFL is great for drama. The Packers host Pittsburgh on Sunday and can win the NFC North in Chicago on Dec. 29.16. Detroit Lions (7-7, LW: 14): The Lions went from first to third when Matthew Stafford threw three interceptions on Monday night.17. San Diego Chargers (7-7, LW: 19): The Chargers are back in the playoff chase, thanks to their surprising upset of the Broncos.18. Dallas Cowboys (7-7, LW: 18): The Cowboys imploded as though it were a playoff game during a second-half collapse and loss to the Packers.19. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-8, LW: 22): The Steelers have a mathematical shot at the playoffs, but they need a whole lot of help to get there.20. New York Jets (6-8, LW: 18): The Browns can take out their frustrations on the Jets and maybe grease the skids for Rex Ryan on Sunday.21. St. Louis Rams (6-8, LW: 25): The Rams have been up and down this season. Beating the Saints as they did is a sign they are improving.22. Minnesota Vikings (4-9-1, LW: 26): Football is a strange game. The Vikings go into Philadelphia without Adrian Peterson and beat the Eagles.23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-10, LW: 20): The Buccaneers ran into a major detour on their road to improvement when they were crushed by the 49ers, 33-14.24. Atlanta Falcons (4-10, LW: 28): The Falcons had to hold off the dysfunctional Redskins to win for just the fourth time this season.25. Tennessee Titans (5-9, LW: 24): The Titans must be eager for this season to end so they can start over and get ready for next year.26. Buffalo Bills (5-9, LW: 30): The Bills have a chance on Sunday to play spoiler in a home game against the Dolphins.27. New York Giants (5-9, LW: 21): Eli Manning has thrown about a million interceptions this season. The actual number is a league-worst 25.28. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-10, LW: 23): The Jaguars had another chance to prove themselves but instead were edged by the Bills, 27-20.29. BROWNS (4-10, LW: 27): The Browns play with heart and they keep it close, but they keep finding ways to lose.30. Oakland Raiders (4-10, LW: 29): The Browns’ defense is bad, but the Raiders’ is worse. Oakland gave up 56 points to the Chiefs.31. Washington Redskins (3-11, LW: 31): Whoever coaches the Redskins next year better learn how to cozy up to RG3.32. Houston Texans (2-12, LW: 32): There are a limited number of ways to describe just how horrible the Texans have been this season.

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About the Author

Jeff has covered the Cleveland Browns since 1981. He also covers the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League and the Cleveland Gladiators in the Arena Football League. Reach the author at jschudel@news-herald.com
or follow Jeff on Twitter: @jsbrownsinsider.